Carton-feeding mechanism.



6 SHEETS-SHEET l F. B. MARTIN. l .CARTON FEEDING IVIEGHANISM.y

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21| I9I0.

- @Winans v en i 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Apr.' 27, 1915.

A -mlmU i l I l l l F. B. MARTIN.

CARTON FEEDING MECHANSM. APPLlcAl'oN FILED ocT. 27. 1910.

witnesses v F. B. MARTIN.

cAnToN Femme MEcHAmsM. i APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27| 1910. 1,137,227, Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

' 6 SHEETS-sneer 4. A

@noem/fox i j Me .DN-ii... .ijis-i....I2-...1........52 v

@9i/Sneaks Q. om www Sge/ump y A IIIIII .M l I..

F.B. MARTIN.

CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 901.27.1910.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

, v gg Y a @mime/.neo "UM/woz e .z Z'Z mi A ,gy sli/r f 4 a M- F. B. MARTIN. CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED ocT. 21. IsIo.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

3111x214 loz wi lmao oc o UNTTED sTaTn'sh PATENT ortica.

FRANKy B. "MARTIN, 0F BA'IlTIiIEl` CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 POSTUM CEBEAL CO.,

LIMITED, 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A COPARTNERSHIP 0F MICHIGAN.

CARTON-FEEDING MEcHANIsM.

machines for sealin g the end fiaps of cartons or other receptacles and more p articularly to conveyers employed 1n such machines for yfeeding the cartons or othgr receptacles to and past the carton sealing mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide means for wfeeding a plurality of streams of' cartons to the carton sealing mechanism which streams shall be actuated by a single conveyer to the end that the capacity of such machines may be largely increased and the compactness and cost of the machine maintained at the minimum while the efficiency of the operation of the machine shall be greatly increased.

Viith this object in View, the invention consists of a plurality of tracks or ways, preferably two, provided with means for guiding the cartons along said tracks or ways, and a single conveyer, such as a chain with suitably spacedl followers thereon; for moving the cartons along said ways to and past the scaling mechanism, and a plurality of feed devices for supplying streams of cartons'to said ways combined with means for simultaneously shifting one carton from one feed device to one of the said ways and another carton from the other feed device to the other way, to the end that two cartons, one in each way, may be simultaneously advanced by a single follower on the conveyer.

The invention further consists in certain features of novelty and construction and arrangement lof parts hereinafter fully described and claimed. f

yThe invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the,

" invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be yunderstood that such drawings are for lthe purpose of aiding in the description ofthe invention and are not designed to define the limits thereof,

Specification of Letters Patent.

` machine.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application led ctober l27, 1910. Serial No. 589,426.

reference being had to the claims hereto appended for that purpose.'

In the drawings-Figures 1 and 1 are side views of the rear and frontend portions of the machine, Fig. 1a being a cntinuation of F ig. 1. A Figs. 2 and 2a are plan views of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 1'?,

respectively', some of the feeding rollers be-1 ing omitted iny Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the mechanism for shifting the cartons laterally from the feeding belts on to the'supporting plates. Figs.

4 and-aredetail transverse sectionalviews through the parts shown in Eig. 3, the,lat eralpush members being shown in retracted position in Fig. 1, and in inwardly projected position in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section through one of the links or rods which operate the vlateral push members. F ig.7 is a side view of one end of the link or rod shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 8 is a detailV sectional view through the rear` or discharge end of the main conveyer` or carrier. Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the carton followers anda .portion of` the main conveyer chain. Fig. 10 is a. detail perspective view of one of the followers. Fig. 11

is a detailcross sectional view taken on line mounting the'carton guide rails at the front or receiving end of the machine. Fig. 13 is a similar cross sectional view showing the manner of mounting the carton guiding rollers at the central and discharge end of the Fig. 14 is a detail perspective View showing a hand retracted stop which may be used over the feed belts at` the front end of the machine for stopping the feeding 'of cartons to the lateral push members.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a main frame of any suitable form or construction upon which is mounted any desired carton sealing mechanism and upon which frame isalso mounted the carton conveyer for feeding or supplying cartons to "said mechanism. As illustrated said frame preferably comprises the uprights 2 supporting upper side bars 3 and lower side bars i. Other connecting. bars and braces are also `preferably employed as illustrated to provide a rigid supporting structure. Arranged to travel the, ma1n frame is a main carrier or con` veyer, preferably in the form of asprocketv longitudinally through l 122 and means for simultaneously pushing,

chain 5 having connected to it at intervals, carton followers 6. The chain 5 is centrally arranged and has 'its upper stretch traveling between the upper side bars-3. It passes around a sprocket wheel 7 fixed to a main drive shaft 8 disposed transversely at the' conveyer chain 5 passes around asprocket wheel on a transverse shaft 10 journaled 1n bearings which are slidable in guide brackets 11 and adjusted by means of screws 12,l

see Figs. 1a and 2.4 These adjustable bearings permit the main conveyer to be tightened when necessary.

Each of the followers 6 (see Fig. v10) comprises a central portion at one end of which 1s provided a transverse plate 13 and at the other end a. cross head 14, the extremities of which latter are provided with carton engaging arms or wings 15. are secured centrally to the chain 5, as shown at 17 in Fig. 9, and their ends are reduced `to travel through track-ways or grooves 18 provided in the side bars 3 as shown more clearly in Figs. 12 and13. These track-ways are lined with metal wear plates and theirupper portions are formed by cartonsupporting plates 19, which are secured to the upper surfaces of the bars 3 and upon which the cartons slide as they are fed through the machine. By constructing the follower 6 in this manner it will be seen that as it travels between the upper sid'e bars of the main frame it will be effectively supported by the engagement of its plate 13 with the track-ways or grooves 18, and the arms or wings 15 on the ends of its cross head 14 will engage one carton' in each of the rows and simultaneously move such cartons over the supporting plates 19.

Tovsupport the ends of the plates 13 as the conveyer chain 5 passes around the sprocket wheels at the ends of the main frame, circular supporting plates 20'are fixed to the shafts 8 and L0 as shown in Figs. 2, 2a and 11; and to support the lower lor return stretch of the conveyer chain 5 angle metal supporting rails 21 are secured.

to the uprights 2 or other portions of the .main frame for the reception of the ends of the plates 13, see Figs. 1 and 11.

At the front end of the supporting frame I provide two endless feed conveyers or belts the cartons from these feed conveyers or belts-to the plates 19 in advance of the followers 6. The belts 22 have their upper stretches disposed horizontally alongside of the forward ends of the plates 19 and in the plane of the same. The belts pass around The plates 13v pulleys 23,-24, the pulleys 24 being driving pulleys fixed to a transverse shaft 25 journaled in suitable bearings on the main frame. The shaft 25 is driven from the shaft-10 by sprocket chain gearing 26, a suitable tightening pulley 27 beingprovided as shown in Fig. 1, to permit the sprocket chain 26 to be tightened after adjustment of the shaft 10. l

Cartons are placed on the forward portions of the feed belts 22, manually or otherwise, and said car-tons are placed between opposing guide members or rails 28-29 (see Fig. 12). These guide rails are preferably arranged in pairs and 'carried by inverted U-shaped frame members 30 secured to the main frame as shown in Fig. 1 2.

The inner guide'rails 28 are stationary i and fixed to hanger bolts 31 depending from the frame members 30.' The outer guide rails 29 are adjustable toward and from the rails 28 to permit cartons of different sizes to befhandled by the machine; this adjustment of said railsn being preferably effected by fixing them to hangers 32 which are adjustable in`slots 33 in the-.frame members i 30, clamping nuts 34 being provided on the threaded ends of the hangers 32 as shown in Fig. 12.

The mechanism for feeding or pushing the cartons on to the supporting plates 19 (shown in Figs. 2'5l and 3 to 5) `comprises two laterally reciprocating push members 35f'which operate in unison so that they simultaneously push one carton from each feed belt on to the coacting supporting plate. These push members are in the form of angular plates which have longitudinally extending portions to engagethe cartons and push them inwardly or laterally onto the supporting plates and outwardly proj ecting transverse portions 36 which latter serve as stop fianges to stop the streams of ycartons on the feed belts while one carton l from each row is being pushed laterally on to the plates. These angular push members 35 are fixed to the inner ends of transverse bars or rods 37 mounted to reciprocate in innerv and outer bearing posts 384-39 and having their outerends connected by uprights bars 40 which latterl carry vbuffers 41 to engage the bearing posts 39 and cushion the inward movement of the push members. The lower rods 37 on 'each side of the maf amasar by means of set screws 48, the reduced forward ends of connecting links or rods 49.

These rods 49 have enlarged flat rear endsl as shown in Figs. 6 and 7'and they are slidi ably supported on a transverse shaft 50, the intermediate portion of which is journaled in bearings on rthe lower side bars 4 of the main framev and the end portion of which projects through elongated openings or slots 55 formed in the rods 49 as clearly shown tons'from being tilted and thrown over on in Fig. 6. Owing to this construction it will be seen that when the shaft 50 is rotated the cams 52 will reciprocate the links or rods 49 in unison to rock the upright shafts 44 and themotion of the latter willbe imparted to the push members 35, the latter reciprocating 1n opposite directions in unison.

vFor the purpose of preventing the cartheir sides when they are pushed'from the feed belts on to the supporting plates 19,'I'

provide guard members 56 which are 4carried by push members 35' and spaced therev from a distance sufficient to receive the carthe supporting tons. The guard' members 56 are in the formv of vertically disposed plates having their upper ends clamped between flanged sleeves 5 which are slidably arranged on a transverse supporting rod 58 uniting the upper extremities of the two inner uprlghtsv 38. The flanged sleeves 57 receive the guard members 56 between them and they are bolted together and connected by angular arms 59 to the push members 35 as clearly shown in Figs.` 4 and 5. The angular arms 59 have their inwardly extending,

" horizontal branches serving as one of the fastenin bolts uniting the co-acting 'flanged sleeves adjusting nuts 60 being provided on said arms 59 to adjustably connect the parts whereby each guard plate 56 may be adjusted toward and from the co-acting push member.- M j In order to stop the cartons infront of the push members 35 when the latter are in their retracted positions shown in Fig. 3, I- provide upright `stop members or plates 61 (Fig. 29), fixed to the upright portions of one of a series of inverted U-shaped frame members 62 (Fig. 4),`Which latter are similar to the frame members 30 and are arranged at'intervals along the upperportion 'of the main frame for the purpose-of supporting cartonguiding rails and other parts.

The means for guiding `the cartons along plates 19 are similar to the guiding devices described above, and each bar andthe lower one a rod vplane slightly above the adjacent carton supone consists of pairs of superposed guide-l rails or rods 63, I64 (Figs. 2,2a and 13). r1`he inner guide rails 63 are in the form of dat bars fixed to depending hanger bolts 65 in the frame members 62 as clearly shown in Fig.,13. The outer guide rails 64 are adjustably mounted, the upper one being a flat disposed in 'a porting plate 19. These outer lguide rails or rods 54 are fixed to adjustable hanger bolts 66, the upper ends of which are adjustable in slots in the frame members 62 as clearly shown in Fig..19. Owing to this adjustment lthe space between the guide rails may be varied to permit the machine to operateon different sized cartons.

Any means may be provided for receiving t e finished cartons as they pass from beneath the rearmost sealing rollers 115 and out the rear end ofthe frame, but I preferably curve the guiding bars or rails 63, 64 laterally in an outward direction as indicated at 120 in Fig. 2, so that the cartons will be pushed laterally on to suitable moving conveyers, not illustrated. j

If desired I may employ i in connection with the carton feeding belts 22 manually operatedstop devices such ,as shown in Fig.

14. On referring to this view itl will 'be seen -that 121 denotes an angularvstop arm carried by one end of the lever 122 pivoted at 123 and having a handle at its free end. The lever 122is adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane to move Vthe lower angular end of the stop arm 121 into and out of the path of the cartons which are fed rearwardly bythe belts 22. i When the stop arm 121 is in the position shown in Fig. 21 the feed of cartons by the belts 22 against the stops 61will be prevented. Y When the operator desires the feed to be resumed thelever 122 is oscillated to swing the stop 121 out of the path of the cartons.

In operation, it will be seen that when power'is applied to either end of the main -members which feed the cartons from the belts 22 onto the supporting plates 19in advance of the followers on the main con-.y

veyer 5, and from said shaft 50 will also be driven Vthe cam shaft 86 of the frame carryin the oscillatingv glue applying rollers,van the lshaft '72 of the second end flap folders. As the cartons are placed on the belts 22 they are carried rearwardly against the stops 61 and at the proper time the two The cartons are then carried through the machine by -the follower and their end flaps are successively folded, their side flaps glued and successively foldedpand all of the flaps pressed down by the sealing rollers and the sealed cartons are discharged at the rear end of the machine. i t

From the foregoing it will be seen that by reason ofthe continuous passage oftwo streams of cartons through the machine, the latter will have a large output and at the same time may be operated at a comparatively small cost and with little ei'ort on the part of the operator, the machine being entirely automatic in operation. By xconstructing and arranging the parts so that they may be adjustedwith respect to each other, cartons of different sizes may be eEectively handled by the machine. The improved means for supporting and feeding the cartons beneath the folding and gluing mechanism insures a regular feed of two streams of cartons through the machine thereby rendering it reliable in operation and also giving it a large capacity as stated above. a i

While I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that y'changes in the form, lproportion and arrangement. of parts and in the details of construction may be resorted to within`V the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim:

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination of' means for supporting and guiding two streams of cartons, a main conveyer traveling between said guiding and supporting Ameans, two feed-conveyers to supply to said main conveyer, and means for simultaneously moving a carton from each feed-conveyer vto said guiding and supporting means to be engaged by the main conveyer.

2. In a machine of the charactervde'scribed,

- the combination of two parallelbelts 4for conveying two streams of cartons, two car,

ton guiding ways'within the planesof 'said belts, a conveyer between the guideways provided with means for propelling cartons along the guiding ways, and-means com` prising transverse push' members for simu-l- 'taneously pushing a carton off each belt upon the adjacent guideway.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for supporting and guiding two streamsof cartons, a mam i.

conveyer to travel between saidv carton `supporting and guiding means, followers ar ranged at intervals on said main conveyer and provided with members to engage with cartons in both streams and push them through said carton guiding means, feed conveyers to supply cartons \t0 said main conveyor, and means for simultaneously pushing a carton from each feed conveyer into the path of the carton engaging members of a follower on the main conveyer.

il. In amachine of the character described, the combination' 0f means for supporting -two streams of cartons, pairs of spaced guiding members for guiding two streams of cartons on said supporting means, means whereby the guiding members of each pair may be adjusted toward and from each other for the reception of different sized cartons,.

a main conveyer to travel between the two carton supporting and guiding means, and provided atinterv-als with followers having members to engage cartonsl and push them through said guiding means, and means for feedin cartons simultaneously to both mem-` bers of a follower on the main conveyer.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carton supporting `plate, spaced carton guiding members adjaing its ends traveling in said track-ways,I

means vfor feeding cartons on to said carton supportingplates in advance of the carton yengaging wings on the followers of the main conveyer. v

7 In a machine of the character described, thev` combination of a -supporting frame, transverse shafts, sprocket wheels vupon the latter, a main conveyer chain passing around said sprocket wheels, carton supporting plates arranged on the frame on opposite sides. of the conveyer, track ways beneath said plates, carton guiding means above said conveyer chain and each consisting ofy a base plate having its ends arranged to travel. through said track ways and a crossheadl plates, followers fixed at intervals to said provided at its extremities with carton Len-y gaging Wings follower su porting disks fixed to said shafts on opposite sides of said sprocket wheels and adapted to engage the base plates of the followers, and means for feeding cartons to the followers of ,the main l conveyer. 8. Ina machine of thercharacter described,

iso

nected Awith each the combination of plates for supporting two streams of cartons, track-ways beneath said plates, two pairs of spaced carton guidv a base plate and a cross head terminating 1n carton engaging wings, said base plate having its ends traveling in said track-ways,- p

carton feeding belts arrangedadjacent the forward ends of the. carton supporting plates, spaced carton guiding members arranged above said belts, transversely reciprocating push members for feeding the cartons from said belts on to said plates in advance of the follower wings, means for simultaneously operating said push members, stops carried by-said push members for preventing the cartons from tilting when they are pushed upon said plates, and retractable stops disposed above said belts for checking the feed of the cartons. v

9. In a machine of the character described the combination of means for guiding, supporting and feeding two streams of cartons, two feed conveyers parallel therewith and in vertical planes outside of those of the guiding means, two transverse plungers in line with each other for pushing cartons olf the feed conveyers upon the guidingmeans, and means for simultaneously operating said plungers comprising two vertical shafts, a crank arm on each shaft adjustably connected to one of the plungers, and means for simultaneously oscillating the two vertical shafts.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for guiding, supporting'and feeding two streams of cartons, two feed conveyers parallel therewith and in vertical planes outside of those of the guiding means, two transverse plungers in line with each other for pushing cartons olf the feed conveyers upon the guiding means, and means for simultaneously operating'said plungers comprising two vertical a crank arm on each shaft adjustably connected to one of the plungers, a second crank arm on each vertical shaft, a trans-` verse shaft, a cam on each end thereof and a link simultaneously operated by each cam and connecting it with the second crank arm of one of the vertical shafts.

11. In a machine of the character described Ithe combination of four parallel tracks or guideways for cartons, a transverse shaft, a cam at each end thereof, a vertical lshaft on each side of the machine, a lower crank arm on each vertical shaft, a link concrank arm at one end and a cam at the other for simultaneously oscil-` lating the two shafts, an upper crank arm on each shaft, and a transverse plunger connected to each upper crank arm.

12. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of a supporting frame, plates for supporting two streams of cartons, a main conveyer having followers rovided with wings to travel over said plates and engage the cartons,

shaped members disposed .above said plates and provided in their upper portions withv slots, depending hangers carrled by said 'U- shaped members, means for adjustably clamping certain of said hangers in said slots, and carton guiding rails carried by said hangers.

13.1In a machine of the character described, the combination of means support ing two rows of cartons, cartons along said supporting means, a single conveyer and followers on said conveyer engaging and advancing the cartons in two rows along said supporting means.

14. In a machine of the :character described, the combination of two carton su porting tracks or ways, a conveyer, and followers on said conveyer each simultaneously engaging and advancing two cartons one on each track or way.

15. In-a machine of. the character described, the combinationl of asingle conveyer, a plurality of carton-guiding lanes or devices guiding the' channels, and a plurality of followers onl `said conveyer simultaneously engaging and advancing the cartons in said lanes lor channels.

16. In a machine of the character decombination of a single 'conscribed, the

thereon', and

veyer, a plurality of followers means simultaneously feeding a plurality of follower wherebyv cartons in front of each the single conveyer simultaneously advances a plurality of -streams ofrcartons.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means supporting two rows of cartons, devices guidingl the cartons along said supporting means, a single conveyer element located in a vertical plane passing between said two rows of cartons, and followers on said conveyer -engaging and advancing the cartons in two rows along said supporting means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. v FRANK B. MARTIN. Witnesses B. T. Rum T. J. LYON. 

